Japan’s central bank keeps key interest rate at 0.1 percent

October 8th, 2009 ECB leaves rates unchangedFRANKFURT — The European Central Bank left its key interest rate unchanged at 1 percent on Thursday. Analysts had widely expected the bank to hold rates steady at its meeting in Venice.

September 3rd, 2009 European Central Bank keeps rate steadyFRANKFURT — The European Central Bank has left its benchmark rate unchanged at 1 percent as markets wait for word that it may raise its economic forecasts. The ECB, which sets interest rates for the 16 countries that use the euro, will explain its decision at a press conference later Thursday.

July 27th, 2009 Hungary cuts key interest rate to 8.5 pctBUDAPEST, Hungary — The National Bank of Hungary cut its key interest rate to 8.5 percent from 9.5 percent, surprising analysts who had been expecting a smaller rate reduction. The base rate cut announced Monday will take affect Tuesday, the central bank said in a statement, adding that the move was justified by improving risk factors for Eastern Europe and Hungary, as well as an improving external trade balance caused mainly by lower consumption.

July 15th, 2009 Japan keeps rates steady as economy stabilizesTOKYO — Japan's central bank kept its key interest rate steady Wednesday amid signs the world's second-largest economy has ended its slide. The Bank of Japan's eight-member policy board voted unanimously to leave its overnight call rate target unchanged at 0.1 percent, as widely expected by the market.

July 2nd, 2009 Swedish Riksbank cuts rates to record low 0.25 pctSTOCKHOLM — Sweden's central bank on Thursday surprised markets by cutting its key interest rate by a quarter of a percentage point to 0.25 percent, saying the economic downturn appears to be deeper than previously forecast. It added that low official interest rates might not be enough to make financial markets recover and decided to issue loans of 100 billion kronor ($13.1 billion) to banks.

June 4th, 2009 Canada keeps interest rate at record lowTORONTO — Canada's central bank is keeping its trendsetting interest rate unchanged at a historic low of 0.25 percent and says the rise of the Canadian dollar is threatening the country's economic recovery. The Bank of Canada reiterated Thursday its conditional commitment to hold the rate at a record low through June 2010.

June 4th, 2009 Russian central bank cuts interest ratesMOSCOW — Russia's Central Bank on Thursday cut its key interest rate by half a percentage point to 11.5 percent — the third time since April it has slashed borrowing costs to help its economy through recession. The bank said in a statement that the new refinancing rate will be effective Friday.

May 9th, 2009 Czech central bank cuts interest rates to 1.5 pctPRAGUE — The Czech Republic's central bank has cut its key interest rate by a quarter percentage point to 1.5 percent to help the economy combat reccession. It is the lowest rate since the country came into existence after the split of former Czechoslovakia in 1993.

May 8th, 2009 Denmark cuts key interest rate to to 1.65 percentCOPENHAGEN — Denmark's central bank says it has cut its key interest rate by 0.35 percentage point to 1.65 percent. Denmark's Nationalbanken says the decision was a consequence of a rate cut by the European Central Bank earlier in the day.

April 30th, 2009 Japan's central bank keeps interest rate on holdTOKYO — Japan's central bank kept its benchmark interest rate steady amid signs that the country's economic picture may be brightening. The Bank of Japan's eight-member policy board voted unanimously Thursday to leave the overnight call rate target unchanged at 0.1 percent, as widely expected.

April 30th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Public sector lender Punjab National Bank (PNB) has reduced its benchmark lending rate by 50 basis points to 11 percent, it announced Thursday. The benchmark prime lending rate (BPLR) has been slashed from 11.5 percent to 11 percent from Friday, the bank said in a statement.

April 21st, 2009 MUMBAI - India's Central bank cut key rates Tuesday by 25 basis points in a move to infuse more liquidity into the system and stimulate lending growth. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) cut the repo rate by 25 basis points from the current 5 percent to 4.75 percent, while the reverse repo rate has been brought down to 3.25 percent from 3.5 percent earlier.

March 18th, 2009 TOKYO - Japan's central bank Wednesday kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 0.1 percent but decided to step up its purchases of government debt. The Bank of Japan is to increase its monthly purchases of long-term government debt from 1.4 trillion yen ($14.21 billion) to 1.8 trillion yen to inject liquidity into money markets and prevent the rise of long-term interest rates.

January 5th, 2009 KOLKATA - The United Bank of India (UBI) has reduced its prime lending rate by 50 basis points to 13 percent effective from Jan 12, it said here Tuesday. 'With this, the existing floating rate in all corporate and retail categories borrowers such as SME (small and medium enterprises), agriculture, housing, auto and vehicle loans, as well as potential borrowers will get the benefit of reduced rate of interest,' a bank statement said.

January 1st, 2009 MUMBAI - In a bid to lower the cost of borrowings for commercial banks, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Friday cut the both the repurchase and reverse-repurchase rates by 100 basis points each, while reducing the cash reserve ratio (CRR) by 0.5 percent points. 'The reduction in the CRR will inject additional liquidity of around Rs.20,000 crore (Rs.200 billion/$4 billion),' the central bank said in a statement, while announcing a further monetary stimulus to prop the economy.